CHI Health Navigation Specialist

Southern Tier AIDS Program, Inc. is seeking a CHI Health Navigation Specialist based in our Ithaca office. This position provides Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Hepatitis C (HCV) & Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention education, conduct adherence support and engagement activities for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C, promote linkage/referral services, and complete Transitional Planning services for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C who are reentering the community, within four correctional facilities located in the NYS New York State Department of Correctional & Community Services (NYS DOCCS) Elmira HUB. This position requires meeting with clients in the facility and out in the community. The CHI Health Navigation Specialist reports directly to the CHI Coordinator.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the CHI Health Education Specialist include but are not limited to:

• Assisting incarcerated individuals in preventing new HIV/HCV/STI infections, promote engagement in medical care with DOCCS to support medication adherence, and successfully transition individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C back into their home communities by:
• Offering HIV/HCV/STI information to ensure individuals incarcerated within the Elmira HUB receive information about transmission and prevention
• Work in conjunction with NYS DOCCS transitional and medical departments to coordinate reentry planning (Transitional Planning) for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C
• Conduct outreach to correctional facility personnel to assure interventions reach the most impactful and substantial audience possible in facility
• Provide single session Health Education and Risk Reduction sessions to individuals incarcerated within multiple HUB correctional facilities
• Enhancing existing NYS DOCCS HIV testing efforts to increase the number of undiagnosed persons who know HIV status and are promptly linked to care
• Integrating tailored stigma and discrimination reduction messaging in NYS DOCCS correctional facilities.

Additional responsibilities include the coordination and linkage among criminal justice, public health, and community-based agencies to address health and health care access for reentry population, including but not limited to:

• Facilitating prompt access to medical care and support services for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C individuals at any point during incarceration and up to six months following release/discharge to the community
• Strengthening self-management skills and motivate individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C and people who engage in high risk behaviors to identify and apply personal strengths and self-advocacy skills needed to achieve optimal health outcomes; and
• Offering HIV/STD/HCV peer education, training and support in NYS DOCCS correctional facilities; and
• Developing individual Linkage Action Plans for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C in preparation for release, including: medical, legal, housing, social, financial, transportation, food security, and other requested services; and
• Increasing awareness about treatment as prevention for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for those who engage in high risk behaviors; and
• Completing sufficient, accurate, and timely documentation of all interventions, activities, and communications during the above listed activities and all ongoing contacts with client.

Benefits

Excellent benefits package including: life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, medical and dental insurance, flexible spending plan and generous time off (24 days annually + 11 paid holidays)

Salary

$18.00/hour working 35-hours per week, may vary depending upon experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Health, Education, Social Work, Liberal Arts, or a related field; or equivalent education and/or experience in human services, community-based organization or correctional setting or Registered Nurse (R.N.) and one year of related experience or L.P.N. and two years of related experience.

Experience:

• Professional experience working in human services, delivering educational programs and specific experience working with incarcerated populations preferred. Full or part-time care management or customer service experience working with any of the following: persons living in poverty, persons with mental illness, homelessness, active substance use, HIV/HCV, and/or other qualifying chronic conditions.
• Computer literacy required.
• Good organizational, communication, public speaking, presentation skills and record-keeping skills are essential.
• Physical demands are those associated with general office duties: sitting, standing and light lifting.
• This individual will conduct educational programs in the facilities and will carry educational presentation materials.
• The hours of this position are not within the normal workday/workweek.
• Must be able to meet requirements to obtain gate clearance at correctional facilities, which requires background checks, fingerprinting, and the submission of personal information to DOCCS.
• This individual is responsible for meeting the transportation and insurability requirements of this job. A valid driver's license, clean driving record and reliable transportation is a requirement of this position.

As an equal employment opportunity employer Southern Tier AIDS Program, Inc. dba Southern Tier Care Coordination (STAP/STCC) does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or on any other basis that would be in violation of any applicable federal, state, or local law. We came into being as a result of the stigma surrounding a disease that disproportionately impacted the LGBTQ community and BIPOC communities. This legacy informs our efforts to always strive to be more inclusive and actively anti-racist to both our staff and the clients we serve.

STAP/STCC is a public health organization. Our mission is to compassionately and competently meet the evolving needs of our communities by serving people affected by chronic illness and to improve public health through disease prevention, care coordination and advocacy. As a public health organization, STAP/STCC believes in the science of vaccination and highly recommends that all individuals get vaccinated.

Apply online or send resume and cover letter to STAP, c/o Human Resources, 22 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905 or FAX to